ECI likely to allow distribution of SSA books in state

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to allow the state education department to distribute books to government school students, which was stopped after the model code of conduct came into effect.

Chief electoral officer VK Singh said they would relax the distribution of books since this was concerning the studies of students.

Earlier, the state education department had asked the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan regional offices and district education officers across the state not to distribute books to government school students till May 16 for the new academic session.

"We have sent a request to the Election Commission of India and within a few days we will get the consent letter to allow the distribution as the new session is going to start soon," he added.

Due to this, the students had to study without books for one-and-a-half months as the academic session starts on April 1.

SSA officials have not picked books from depots following the instructions from the principal secretary of school education.

"We will pick books from depots and start distributing at all government schools the moment we get the permission," an SSA official said.

"We were worried about the students. It would have been very difficult to teach without books. As the ECI allows book distribution, it will not hamper their studies," a schoolteacher said.

Anjali Bhawra, principal secretary of school education, said they were waiting for ECI permission so that students' studies were not affected.